Attachment for box making machine



- l 15 Sheets-Sheet 1 G. E- STILWELL ATTACHMENT FOR BOX MAKING MACHINE u n mw. m Tm R NT .0 T m... n n n .u 9 e w l 8 oo 2 5 l n 4 5 4 n, m5 l u -42H6 2 o m D 43 60 d. L E .1%.2 BMJ. D4 I wf/ m lV? velo 2 2o\4 4 Y E n mmB/.qs m nionw E u 3 ze@ Tm ,a 1 l 3 A. 443 CSW 3 4 o H M o e u m .M Q ml l .u H3 Tu uw M H704 IH. .Um/42 lm bm 5 f 7 45 n m4) b M i ...2 O 4 x -o Q A 2 5 April 2, 1957 Filed Jan. ze, 1952 A :uw El, '111. Y

April 2, 1957 G. E. STILWELL ATTACHMENT FOR BOX MAKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28. ).952

| 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 E5() O TIE-. La s u el 5' 4m NL A sa@ 4b 226- 2720 40o `40a- C 36 308 3l I L 224 22,5262 3' 252 [O2 o6 o gqsa o 253 loo 3i? l -2'350 52 c 31* 20a l 228 222 lol 320, /fg--g--'Lz/eoe `t-\`2o 44" 4 6 o o 2\o 22| 2253 \2o o 4, 40 55s IO o o o o o o 35 -68 325 o '70 33o o |60 es f, O .'52

"Jl D 2 o las A 55 .sa 154 mvENToR GLENN e. snLwELL Ap 2; 1957 G. E. srlLwELL l ATTACHMENT FOR BOX MAKING MACHINE 15 snee'ts-sneet s Filed Jan. 28. 1952 INVENTOR GLENN E. STILWELL B'Y #wu/1 ATTORNEY April 2, v1957 G. E. srlLwr-:LL 2,787,001

ATTACHMENT FOR BOX MAKING MACHINE Filed aan. 2s., 1952 A| 15 sheets-sheet 4 5 als als 45x so w o 455. 40o 430 ylqc 446 lol |o mvENoR GLENN E. vsrrnnnnm.

ATTORNEY April` 2, 1957 e. E. smwELL Y ATTACHMENT FOR BOX MAKING MACI'INE 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 28, 1952 ATTORNEY April 2, 1957 G. E. s'mLwELL 2,787,001

ATTACHMEW'FOR BOX MAKING MACHINE lNVE NTOR GLENN E. STILVIELL ATTORNEY April 2, 1957 G. E. sTlLwELL 2,787,001

ATTACHMENT FOR Box MAKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28, 195.2 15 sheets-sheet v TI E E 3Q C l2. 6 I 2o H3 |25 |00 |20 |23 29 13o 5o loa, los \0G: lo loa, |o| l f |040 lNVENTOR GLENN E. STILWELL ATTORNEY April 2, 1957 G. E, sTlLwELL 2,787,001

ATTACHMENT FOR Box MAKING MACHINE 15 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Jan. 28. 1959 GLENN E. STILVIELL BY ,AAW @Www- ATTORNEY April 2, 1957 G. E. s'rlLwELL 2,787,001

ATTACHMENT FOR BOX MAKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28, 1952 I 15 sheets-sheet 9 INVENTOR GLENN E. STILWELL BY APW ATTORNEY G. s. sTlLwr-:LL 2,787,001

ATTACHMENT FOR BOX MAKING MACHINE Y 15 Sheets-Sheet 10 April 2, 1957 Filed Jan. 28. 1952 2e 2265's @4,7 26e INVENTOR GLENN E. STILWELL BY MW, @QW-Www.

ArToRNEY April 21, 1957 G. E. s'nLwELL 2,787,001.

ATTACHMENT FOR -BOX MAKING MACHINE 'I'Ewl INVENTOR GLENN E. STILWELL ATTORNEY Y @www April 2, 1957 G. E. snLwELl.

ATTACHMENT FOR BOX MAKING MACHINE- l5 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed Jan. 28. 1952 son 286 'EAS INVENTOR `GLENN E. STILWELL BY ACW@ 5. /dvyw'vff- ATTORNEY April 2, 1957 G. E. sTlLwELL ATTACHMENT Foa Box MAKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 28. 1952 INVENTOR GLENN E. s rlLwELL ATTORNEY April 2, 1957 G. E. sTlLwELL. 2,787,001

l ATTACHMENT FOR BOX MAKING MACHINE med aan. 2s. 195.2 15 sheds-sheet 14 f mvsufon GLENN E. STILWELL ATTORNEY April 2, 1957 e. E. sTlLwELL ATTACHMENT rFOR BOX MAKING MACHINE 15 Sheets-Sheet 15 Filed Jan. 28, 1952 t IlY no@ mvewron GLENN E. STILWELL i ATTORNEY 2,787,001 ATTACHMENT FOR BOX MAKING MACHINE Glenn E. Stilwell, Riverside, Calif., assignor to Food Machinery and Chemical Corporation, San lose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application January 28, 1952, Serial No. 268,469

31 laiins. (Cl. 1-131) This invention relates to box making machinery and more particularly to an attachment for manually-fed box making machines to automatically perform, and accordingly relieve the operator from the performance of, certain of the manual operations.

The type of 'box making machine to which a unit emthe front of the machine, and who is within convenient reach of stacks of the box shook. The operator first places a pair of box ends or heads in vertical position respectively upon suitably spaced supports beneath the nailing mechanism. One side board is then laid in bridging relation over the two box heads and is nailed thereto by the reciprocatory nailing mechanism. In turn, after successive 90 rotative movements of the box heads, the bottom and other side are secured thereto in the same fashion. The completed box is then normally removed from the front of the machine by the operator, and is placed on the floor at his side. The boxes, of course, accumulate adjacent the operators position in front of the machine and must be removed periodically.

Dependent upon the experience and ability of the operator, a maximum of from four to six boxes may be made per minute. A time analysis of the operation has indicated that the insertion of the two box heads and the removal of the completed box constitute the two most time-consuming manual operations and those which vary most widely with the ability of the operator. Y

it is, therefore, a general object of the invention to expedite the pro-duction of boxes by reducing the time consumed in feeding box heads to a box making machine and in removing the finished boxes therefrom.

Another object of the invention `is to provide an attachment for a manually-fed box making machine which renders the feed operation semi-automatic and thus reduces the wide variance in the box production rate which has resulted from the differing degrees of ability of the machine operators.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved box head feed unit which may be attached to a manually-fed box making machine of the type described and which is operable to feed the box hea-ds to said machine automatically.

Another object of the invention is to provide a box head feed unit for a box making Amachine which enables the discharge of the completed boxes through and from the rear of the machine to prevent their accumulation adjacent the operator.

A further object is to provide for the initiation of ate-nt the automatic box head feed in response to the discharge of a completed box from the rear of the box making machine,

Additionally, it` is an object to provide a box head feed unit for a box making machine which feeds the box heads thereto from the rear of the machine while permitting the discharge of the completed boxes from the rear of the machine also.

Another object is -to provide a box head feed u nit Vin corporating an improved mechanism for moving the bQX heads from a magazine at the rear of a box making in achine into a position of assembly thereon.

A further object is to provide a box head feed unit which may be easily adjusted to handle box heads of various dimensions and to properly space the heads for accommodation of the side and bottom boards of boxes of different lengths.

Another object is to provi-de a box head feed unit whose weight and over-all dimensions are minimized.

It is yet another object lto provide a box `head feed unit which may be incorporated on a box making machine simply and with a minimum of modification of said machine.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment of my invention as `shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a 4front elevation of a box making machine having a box head feed unit embodying the present invention attached to the rear end thereof.

Fig. 2 is a right side elevation of the Vstructure shown in Fig. l with parts broken away to illustrate details thereof.

Figs. 3A and 3B are horizontal sectional views of the right and left portions, respectively, of the structure, as taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and provide substantially a top plan View of the box head feed unit in its operative setting.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken along line 4-4 of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a horizontalsection taken along line 5,-.-5 of Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along line of Fig. 4 to illustrate details of an anvil arrangement for supporting box parts in the box making machine during the nailing operations. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken along line 7 7 of Fig. 6.

Figs. 8A and 8B are front elevations of the right and left portions, respectively, of the box head feed unit, detached from the box making machine, the views being taken to show lthe front of the unit which is arranged for connection to the rear of the box making machine.

Fig. 9 is an elevation of a switch mechanism associated with a box discharge conveyor incorporated in the box head feed unit.

Fig. l0 is a diagram illustrating the electrical control circuit of the b ox Vhead feed unit.

Fig. 1l is a bottom plan view of the box head feed unit, parts being brokenaway.

Fig. l2 is a View, partly in section, taken in the direction of the arrows 12-12 in Fig. 3B, to illustrate ,interior construction of a clamp arm for the box heads.

Fig. i3 is a top plan view of a box head pusher rod and a carriage therefor.

Figs. 14 and 1S are right and left hand elevations, re-

spectively, of the structure shown in Fig. 13.

Fig. 16 is an elevation of a portion of a drive mechanism which -actuates the box head pusher rod and carriage shown in Figs. 13, 14 and v15.

Fig. 17 vis a horizontal section taken on line 17-17 of Eie- 1,6.

Fig. 18 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the cyclical motion of said drive mechanism.

Fig. 19 is a perspective view, illustrating a stop member adapted to maintain a box head in operative nailing position.

Figs. 20 through 25 are diagrammatic perspective views of a box making machine having the box head feed unit of the invention attached thereto, with portions thereof broken away, and illustrate the operation of the present embodiment of the invention in a sequence of six steps.

With reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3A and 3B, a box head feed unit embodying the present invention is shown attached to a particular box-making machine of known design. This particularV box making machine generally comprises an upright rectangular frame A which mounts a vertically reciprocatory nailing mechanism B on its upper portion, a box-supporting means C immediately thereunder, and a drive mechanism D adjacent its lower end.

As shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 2, the frame A includes a llat, rectangular base which rigidly mounts at its opposite ends a pair of standards 31, 32 which rise vertically therefrom in parallel spaced relation. This relation is rigidly maintained by parallel tie bars 33, 34 bolted at their extremities to the front and rear edges, respectively, of the standards adjacent their upper ends and a pair of I-beams 3S, 36 similarly connected between the Vstandards at an intermediate level. f Corresponding vertical slots 37, 38 are formed near the upper end of the two standards to receive a crosshead 41 for guided vertical movement. Said crosshead 41 constitutes an element of the nailing mechanism B which is substantially identical to that disclosed in the H. E. Twomley Patent No. 2,004,355, dated June 11, 1935. A set of nail punches in the form of rods 42 depend in parallel relation with their lower extremities in horizontal alignment from each of two spaced bridges 43, 44 on the crosshead, each nail punch being arranged in immediate super-position over one of a plurality of nail Vchucks 45 supported on a nail chuck yoke 46. This yoke 46 is suspended on the crosshead 41 by a pair of bars 47, 48 which are afxed to the yoke and extend vertically into suitable apertures in the crosshead for sliding engagement therewith to thereby permit relative vertical movement between the yoke and crosshead but preclude vertical misalignment thereof. The individual nail punches and nail chucks are arranged on the supporting crosshead and yoke, respectively, in a manner providing for their adjustment in a horizontal plane.

Nails are supplied to each of the nail chucks 45 by a nail feed mechanism 50 (Fig. 2) which comprises a nail pan or hopper 51 pivoted at one end on horizontal pins 52, 53 mounted at each end of a nail feed support bracket 54 secured to the upper ends of the frame standards 31, 32 of the box making machine. Stripper bars 55 carried by said bracket 54 and forming guide channels along which nails gravitate with their heads retained above the bars extend downwardly from the hopper 51 to nail picking devices (not shown) of conventional construction which pick nails individually from the lower ends of said channels and transfer them into funnels 57 positioned underneath from where flexible tubes 58 conduct them Adownwardly into the nail chucks.

TheY nail hopper 51 is supported for oscillation about its pivoted end by a pair of links 60, 61 which pivotally connect the opposite sides of the hopper to the ends of levers 62,63. The other ends of said levers are secured to a transverse rod 64 pivotally mounted in brackets 66, (one being shown in Fig. 2) that are secured near opposite ends of the rear tie bar 34. Lever 63 is operatively engaged at an intermediate point by a connecting rod 67 which reaches down to and is pivotally engaged by an eccentric mounting pin 68 on a gear'69. Said gear 69 is secured to a stub shaft 70 that constitutes a component of the drive mechanism D, to be described in detail hereinafter. As said gear 69 rotates, the nail hopper 51 is oscillated into upwardly and downwardly inclined positions relative to its pivoted end by the cooperative action of the connecting rod 67, levers 62, 63 and links 60, 61 so that nails will be delivered to the stripper bars 55 in a well known fashion. The nails which descend by gravity on the stripper bars S5, are periodically and selectively removed therefrom bythe nail picks` and deposited in the tunnels 57 from whence they rapidly slide into the nail chucks 45 preparatory to a box nailing cycle.

The periodic delivery of the nails from the stripper bars 55 to the nail chucks 45 is attained through actuation of the nail picks in response to an upward movement of the crosshead 41 in the instant box making machine. Briey, the actuation is achieved by means of a vertical arm 71 secured at an intermediate point thereof to the crosshead 41 and arranged to engage a ratchet mechanism 72 on a transverse nail pick control bar 73, rotatably mounted on the nail feed bracket 54. With each rise of the crosshead 41, the arm 71 engages the ratchet 72 to rotate the control bar 73 a quarter revolution and thereby cause the nail picks to deliver one nail to each of selected nail chucks through the respective tunnels and flexible tubes. The selective delivery is attained by disabling nail picks associated with certain of the tunnels 57 and the selection itself will understandably be 'determined by the dimension and type of box to be produced.

To provide for the vertical reciprocation of the crosshead 41, each end thereof is extended outwardly from the guide slots 37, 38 in the standards 31, 32 for pivotal connection to the upper ends of pitmans 80, 81 of like construction. At its lower extremity the pitman is pivoted to a crank 84 on one end of a main drive shaft 85 which is supported on suitable bearings 86, S7 provided in the standards 31, 32. The other pitman 81 is eccentrically pivoted to a crank gear 88 disposed on the main drive shaft 85 adjacent its opposite end.

The drive mechanism D is arranged for cyclical open ration and each cycle provides for la single revolution orr the drive shaft 85 to `accordingly provide `for a single reciprocation of the crosshead 41 which, as will be remembered, supports the nail punches 42. The yoke 46 which supports the nail chucks 45 is reciprocated in timed relation to the movement of the crosshead 41 by means of connecting rods 89, 90 pivotally secured to opposite ends of the yoke 46 and extending downwardly for pivotal connection to arms 91 (one shown in Fig. l) which turn on a transverse shaft 91a that is supported in the standards 31, 32. Each of said arms 91 has a roller 92 arranged to engage a respective one of a pair of cams 93 secured in spaced relation on the drive shaft 85.

Brieily, the Vaction of the nailing mechanism B comprises the driving of nails from the nail chucks 4S by the nail punches 42 into properly positioned box parts upon the downward movement of the chuck supporting yoke 46 and the punch supporting crosshead 41 and the subsequent replenishing of nails in the chucks upon the upward movement of the crosshead which actuates the nail picks of the nail feed mechanism B.

To position and support the box parts beneath the nailing mechanism, an anvil mechanism (Figs. 6 and 7) of well known construction, as shown in the G. C. Paxton Patent No. 2,232,725, is herein employed, it being understood that the box supporting means C may comprise other arrangements. Said anvil mechanism includes a pair of identical though reversely disposed anvil units v positioned respectively beneath the spaced sets of nail punches 42 to cooperate therewith. Since the anvil units are identical, only one will be described and like numerals will be employed in the drawings to designate corresponding parts of the anvil units 100.

.quired for :a particular box nailing operation.

Each anvil unit 100 includes apai-r ofjuxtaposedanvils 7110,1," 102 4which are .arranged j forindividual vertical adjustment to enable the support of^boxparts of various dimensions .at apredetermined nailing level NL (Figs. 1 .and 4) `for cooperation with the nailing mechanism B.

"bores 107, 108 in a'boss 109 formedintegrally ou and Aprojecting laterally from a plate 110. The lower extremities of the supporting rods V105, 106 are formed with squared heads to facilitate adjustment, only lthe square head 111 of the rods 106'being shown in Fig. 6. Clamps 11'3, 114 'are secured by cap `screws 115 to the opposite y.ends of .theboss plate 11'0 to form guides which hold the anvils 101, 102 somewhat loosely against the face of said plate 110 -so yas to maintain their juxtaposed relation while permitting the vertical sliding movement of the vindividual anvils when ,the threaded supporting rods 105,

y106 are turned.

The anvil unit base 120 isv provided with integral feet 121, 122 which are slidably disposed in the inner channels of the I beams 35, 36 extending between the vertical .standards 31, 32 of the box making machine and horizontally disposed trunnion pins 125, 126 project inwardly from these feet for rotatable reception in corresponding holes 127, 12S formed in the clamps 113, 114 so that the 4anvils 101, 102 are pivot-ally supported -on the slidable base 120. A set screw 129 (Figs. 1, 2, 6 and 7) is thread- -edly mounted in the anvil base 120 and extends horizontally into engagement with the lower portion of the outer anvil 102 to form a stop which permits the upper portion of the anvil unit 100 to pivot outwardly but prevents inward pivoting thereof beyond a vertical position.

Ananvil unit actuating means is provided to slide each anvil -unit base 120 along the I beams 35, 36 and position Aone or the other of the anvils 101, `102 directly beneath `one aligned lset of nail punches 42 Vand chucks 45 as re- Said `means includes a horizontal bar 130 (Figs. l and 6) axed to each anvil unit base 120 Aby a set screw 131 .atits outer end. The inner end of each bar 130 (Fig.`7) is secured by anothergset screw 132 to a cam follower `v133 .slidably supported on horizontally positioned parallel rods 134, 135 mounted at opposite sides of the bar 130 on a strut 136 Whichis bolted at its ends to .the I .beams 35, 36 of the machine frame A. A roller 137 (Figs. 1, 6 and 7) on each follower 133 is arranged to en- `gage an vannular channel `138 formed in a respective one of a pair of cam plates 139 secured in vertically spaced relation on .a vertical shaft 140 for rotation therewith. Said shaft 140 is journaled .centrally in the cam follower .support strut 136 and mounts a miter gear 141 (Fig. l) at its lower `end for engagement with a miter pinion 142 on the main drive shaft 85 of the drive mechanism. The geared connection is such that one revolution of the cam plates 139 results from three revolutions of the drive shaft S .and the configuration of the annular channels 138 Vin the cam plates 139 provides that the anvil units 100 are held in outwardly thrust position with the inner anvils 101 beneath the two sets of nail punches 42 and ychucks 45 during the first and last thirds of each revolution of the cam plates, Ibut Aare moved to and maintained at their innermost position with the outer anvils 102 beneath the sets of punches and chucks during the intermediate one third of each revolution.

As ya result ,of the foregoing arrangement of the anvil unit actuating means, three cycles of the box making machine comprising three revolutions of the main drive shaft .85 cause three reciprocations of the nailing mechnnsm B, three nail feed operations and one complete revolution of the cam plates 139 for the anvil units 100. During thetirst cycle, the inner anvils 101 are in operattive position beneath the nail punches 42; during the second cycle, theouter anvils 102 are in operative position; Iandduringthe third cycle, the 'innenanvils '101 are Aagain positioned'beneath the f punches42 and chucks 4'5.

Each cycle of the box making machine lis `instigated manually and is terminated automatically through the use of a clutch (Fig. 1) incorporated in the drive mechanism D. Said clutch 150 .includes a drum v151 which receives an expandable friction ring .(not shown) secured to a clutch shaft 152. The clutch drum 151 is mounted .for free rotation on the clutch shaft v152 .and has a doubie sprocket 153 (Figs. 1 and'2) formed integrally therewith which sprocketis connected by chains 154 with a drive-sprocket 155 secured on the shaft 156 of an electric motor '157 suitably supported by the 'machine frame and energized through a switch 158 that is conveniently mounted onthe pedestalf32. A foot pedal 159 (Fig. 2) mounted on'the frame base is connectediby suitable actuating linkage (not shown) to the expandable clutch ring so that upon depression of the pedal by an operator, the ring is brought into engagement with Ithe interior of the clutch drum 151 to provide for the rotation of the clutch shaft 152. The linkage is such that driving engagementis maintained after the operator Aremoves his foot from the pedal 159. Said rotation of the clutch shaft 152 is transmitted through a train of reduction gears 160 (Fig. 2) to the nail hopper gear 69, previously mentioned, to produce -a slow oscillation ofthe nail hopper 51. Additionally, a pinion 161 on the clutch shaft 152 meshes with the previously mentioned crank gear 83 on the main drive shaftSS to produce rotation of the latter.

A cam (not shown.) .on the inner side of said crank gear 8S is adapted upon the completion of a single revolution to engage a rod 163 (Fig. 1) operably connected to the clutch actuating linkage whereby the clutch150 becomes disengaged. The same cam actuation of th'e rod 163 is operable in a well known manner to set a brake ,164 on the clutch shaft 152, said brake being automatically released upon depression of the described pedal 159.

'In the exemplary embodiment of a box making .machine, as shown in .the drawings, the production of a shallow box (i. e., abox whose depth is considerably less than its width) of the type employed in packing grapes, apples, pears and the like, is contemplated. In order that the parts of such boxes will be supported at the correct nailing level NL during each cycle of the machine, the inner anvils 101 are positioned with their supporting surfaces considerably lower thanthose of the outer anvils 102 as illustrated in Fig. 6. Consequently, during each of the first and third cycles when a side wall is to be naiied to the box heads, one short edge of the heads rests upon the operatively positioned inner lower anvils 101 Vand since the longer dimension of the heads extends vertically, the other short edge ispositioned at the correct nailing level NL. On the other hand, during the second or middle nailing cycle, the outer and higher anvils 102 are in operative position and the short dimension of the box heads becomes the vertical dimension and the upper long edges of the heads are supported at the correct level NL so that the bottom wall may be properly secured thereon by the nailing mechanism.

The box head feed unit has a frame 200 (Figs. 2, 3A, 3B, 4, 8A, 8B and l1) which includes a pair of sideplates 201 of generally rectangular configuration, each having an apertured flange 202 adapted to be bolted to the rear of a respective one of the standards 31, 32 of the box making machine. When so secured to the standards the plates 201 are rigidiy held in vertical position and extend rearwardly from the standards in spaced parallel relation. Spacer bars 203, 204 extend between the plates near the upper and lower rear corners thereof to help maintain this parallel relation.

1n accordance with the invention, two paths for supplying vertically disposed box heads to the spaced inner anvils 101 from the rear of the box making machine are ported immediatelyv above the lower spacer bar 204 and extendingforwardly between the side plates 201 in parallel spaced relation to a point in close proximity to said inner anvils 101. These feed tracks 205 are reverse duplicates of one another and the same structural situation prevails in the elements associated therewith. Consequently, like numerals are employed in the drawings to designate corresponding elements.

Each of the tracks 205 is formed by an angle iron 206 aflixed to a mounting block 207 so that one iiange 203 of the iron may lie in a substantially horizontal plane to provide a box head supporting surface. The mounting block 207 (Figs. 4, 8A and 8B) is adjustably secured tothe lower spacer bar 204 by a set screw 209 whereby the angle iron 206 may be shifted lengthwise of the spacer bar 204 into the proper lateral position relative to the respective inner -anvil 101. The ends of the spacer bar 204 are held in vertical slots 210 in the mounting plates 201 by means of suitable bolts 204e so that said bar 204 and, accordingly, the angle irons 206 supported thereon may be vertically adjusted with the box supporting sur faces thereof in coplanar relationship with the surface of the inner anvils 101. A short rail 211 is adjustably secured by a bolt 212 to the box head supporting flange of each track 205 to extend angularly thereacross and terminate adjacent the interior forward corner 206e: thereof (Fig. Ey means of lthe lateral adjustment of the tracks 205 on the spacer bar 204 as hereinabove described, the tracks may be disposed in greater spaced relation than the inner anvils 101 so that the interior forward corner 206:1 of each track iis immediately adjacent the outer rear corner of the respective inner anvil 101 associated therewith.

This structural arrangement (Fig. 5) establishes supply paths that converge upon their close approach to the inner Y anvils 101 of the box nailing machine and, as wi-ll become apparent hereinafter, accordingly enable the discharge of completed boxes from the rear of the box making machine onto a box discharge conveyor 213 which is disposed between the feed tracks 205.

Box heads are supplied to the feed tracks 205 at their rearward ends which extend from between `the mounting plates 201 to points adjacent box head feed magazines, generally indicated bythe numeral 215. Said magazines 215 comprise a pair of lateral troughs 216, each of which extends downwardly and toward a respective one of said feed tracks 205. Each trough 216 is supported by an ear 217 having a rectangular ange 218 bolted against Ithe exterior side of one of the mounting plates 201 in a position below the upper spacer bar 203. Each ear 217 (Figs. 8A and 8B) is provided with a horizontal slot 219 so that the forward side 220 of the trough 216 :may be bolted therethrough in such a position that a dependent lip 221 (Figs. 2 and 4) on the discharge end of the trough may lie against the dependent flange 222 :of .the angle iron 206 forming the feed track and be adjustably bolted thereto through a horizontal slot 223 therein. To assure that this lip 221 will be disposed at the proper level and may be shifted vertically in accord with a vertical adjustment of the feed track 205, the mounting pla-te 201 is provided with a slot 224 (Figs. 2 and 4) vertically aligned with the previously mentioned slot 210 which permits adjustment :of the lower spacer :bar 204. The trough supporting ear 217 is bolted to the mounting plate 203i through said slots 210 and 224 and a long suspension bolt 225 may be supported from thc feed unit frame to extend through aligned vertical threaded bores in webs 226 l on the ear 217 so as to provide for accurate vertical adjustment .of .said ear.

The degree :of adjustabili-ty of the feed tracks 205 is In like manner,

Vthefeed.irlagazinesV 215 maybe adjusted to accommodate the extremes of` adjustment of the feed tracks 205. Accordingly, any box head which may be handled by the box making machine may be fed thereto from the feed magazines 215V and along the tracks 205 of the box head feed unit of the present invention.

lIt will be apparent that the troughs 216 forming the .feed magazines ofthe present device may be of any suitable length to accommodate a desired supply of box heads or boards. The heads are placed in the troughs on their edges in substantially vertical position and are urged by gravity down the inclined floors .of said troughs onto the .feed tracks 205. A weighted roller 227 may, if desired, be positioned in the trough behind the rearmost box head to increase the gravitational urgency.

A stop rail 22S (Figs. 2, 4 and 5) is provided on each feed track 205 opposite the discharge end of the respective trough 216 to limit the movement of the foremost box head across the track and thus properly position this box head for relatively transverse movement forwardly on the feed track toward the corresponding inner anvil 101. An adjustable extension of the forward side 220 of the trough 216 is provided .by a small slotted plate 229 bolted to said trough side. Said plate 229 is adjusted in determined lateral relation to the above described stop .rail 228 sorthat only a single box head may progress toward anranvil 101 in the manner indicated above.

-To propel the box heads .resting on the two feed tracks 205 forwardly therealong onto the spaced inner anvils 101, a pair of like pusher rods 230 (Figs. 2, 4, 11, 13, 14 an-d 15) are supported by and beneath individual carriages 231 slida-bly mounted upon spaced carriage rails 232 (Figs. 2, 4 and 11). Such rails 232 comprise a pair of angle irons 233 (Figs. 3A, 3B, 8A and 8B) suspended at intermediate points thereof from brackets 234 (Fig. 4) secured to the upper .spacer bar 203, previously described, so as to extend horizontally in substantial parallelism with the feed 4tracks 205, above and slightly inwardly thereof. Adjacent the feed magazines 215 a pair Iof spaced brackets 235, 236 (Figs. 2 and 4) are welded to and rise from each carriage rail 232 `to adjustably support a slotted stop plate 237 (Figs. 3A and 3B) which cooperates with the stop rail 228 on each feed track 205 so the foremost head will be vertically disposed thereon. A finger 237a adjustably secured on the plate 237 engages the rear edge of said box head.

The free anges 238 (Figs. 4, 8A and 8B) of the angle irons 233 forming the carriage rails 232 are disposed in horizontal inwardly facing relation .to provide a flat .supporting surface for the .individual carriages 231 and the carriages are each provided with a channel 240 (Fig. 14) of such dimension as to embrace slidablythe free ange 238 of a respective one of the carriage rails 232. As shown in Figs. 13, 14 and 15, such a channel 240 may be conveniently formed by a pair of short angle irons 241, 242 of unlike cross section. The vertical flange 243 of the .smaller angle iron 241 is bolted to the interior of the vertical flange 244 of the larger angle iron `242 so that the horizontal flanges 245, 246 of the two angle irons are properly spaced to provide the correctly dimensioned channel 240. j

A vertically depending stub shaft 248 (Fig. 1l) is secured to the lower rear surface of the carriage 231 (Figs. 13, 14 and 15) and loosely telescoped over said shaft is a tube 249 Vheld on the. shaft by means of a retaining washer 250 and nut 251. A plate 252 is bent at an obtuse angle about said tube 249 and is welded or otherwise secured thereto for rotational movement therewith Y about the stub shaft 24S. At one end 253, the plate 252 is slotted as shown at 254 for the reception of bolts 255 in a horizontally extending arm 256 which slidably supports the pusher rod 230 in a vertical sleeve 257 formed at its extreme end. Nuts 258 which .are screwed upon the bolts 255 `to normally clamp the supporting arm 256 in a given position on the bent plate 252 may 13e/quickly `loose-ned to enable horizontaladjnst rod 23. A set screw 259 ('FigjlfS)y through the .sleeve 257 of the Supporting" justably clamp the pusher rod 23011 position therein.

Since each pusher rod 23tl.r r 1u st benin precise vertical alignment above the respective Lfeed 'track 2 05 tot, function properly, and since the feedf t racks aredspacedjfarther apart than are the carriage rails't232, thatend 4v2.53 of the bent plate 252 and the ar-rn 256 associatedtherewith, which provide the pivotal V supportlfofr each rod 23!` necessarily extend outwardly at a slightangle from the rea-r end of the carriage 23l (Figs.v ll and 1j34). When thus positioned, the other end or tail) portion i260 lof the bent plate ,252 extends transversely under 'thecarriage 231. =One end of a spring 261 isconneotedto the l:tail portion 260 of the plate 252 and its other end is eonnected tgo a pin 262 depending `from al forward point of 'the carriage 232 so that the springj2v61 vis '1 1eld Alinderjtensizon. By this arrangement, the tail portion'1260 of thefbent plate 252 is constantly urged forwardlyfof thecarriage I231and the pusher rod 23) is accordingly urged outwardly therefrom.

A stop is bolted to the carriagefzll to-be engaged by a set screvy 254 threadedly secured "inthe tailiportion 26d of the plate 252, whereby an'adjustablellirnit"forkthe yieldable outward inovementof'the pusher rod' 230 is provided.

Ey proper adjustment of this limit fof pivotal-movement and by proper adjustment of *the Vadjustable v supporting .arm 25d for the pusher rod 230,`previously" described, said rod 23d may be positioned directly above therespective feed track 235. When so positioned, the rod V230, upon its forward movement Vengages `the rear-edge of a box head resting on the feed track i205 againstthe stop rail 22% and stop plate 237 and subsequently :propels the box head forwardly along the track 205 toward vthe respective inner anvil 101 of the box making machine.

So that the position of the pusher rod 230 against the rear edge of the propelled box head will ,be maintained when the feed path breaks inwardly upon itsapproach to the anvil 101, a strap 265 is secured lto the inner side of the pusher rod supporting arm 256 and extends slightly forwardly of the pusher rodto lie againstthe inner corner of the rear edge of the box head.' Therefore,` assvill be apparent, when the box heads start toconverge,-they .will urge the respective straps 265 inwardly againstthe ac tion of the springs 261 and the pusher rods 231)"wil1 automatically follow the respective rear edges'ofithe'ibox heads.

Upon said convergence of thefbox heads, each box head becomes pressed against a `spring'inger 266secured for lateral adjustment by means Vof avset-.screw,.-267 on the foremost end of each pusher rod carriage 231. As .will become more readily apparent hereinafter,` Ysaid spring fingers 266 co-act with the straps 265 onzthe pusher rod supporting arms 256 to maintain the required vertical position of the box heads as `.they move `onto the inner anvils 101.

The individual carriages 231 which support the `box head pusher arms are connected for simultaneousfhorizontal reciprocatory movement toward and :awaylfromthe box making machine so that there can .be no discrepancy in the time of arrival of two box headson the fspaced inner anvils liti. To this end,thpspaced-carriagesl231 are connected by a bar 268 (Figs. 1,12, ".4, 3A,"3B, '8A-8B and ll) which extends transversely `.therebetfween `and enters a cylindrical socket 269 (Figs. 1l, 13, l4,and :15) provided on each carriage. Set-screws ,270 retain the ends of the bar rmly in said sockets '269.

A tube 271 (Figs. 4 and 1.1.)Lisrrotatablyarranged around the central porti-on` of the transverse ba 268 kand an actuating rod 272 welded ,toftheexteriorof aiditube extends rearwardly to the drive mechanism :128,0 (Figs. 2, 4, A16 and 17) of the bex headreed nait Said drive mechanism 280 includes a frarnp may be shifted longitudinally altasaaai4 anglejrons 2.8.2.Which arebolted-to ,the .upperjpgrtipn fit1 snaedlmou as plates Zllptoeatederw `filly therefrom in. parallelism `with .both the feed tracks V205Qai1d the carriage rails 232. T he frarne 28 1`comprises` VLapair ofside plates 283,(Figs. 2, 3A, 3B, 4 and 1l) of substantiallytriangular,configuration which are supported in parallel spaced relation by transverse angle bars 284, '285 -vv ve'ldedthereto ladjacent two respective apexes. The plates' 283 are, a djacent the edge which ,joins those two 4apexes, bolted tothe rearwardly extending angle irons 232 through horizontally extending elongated slots i286 therein to permit the described shifting ofthe drive .mechanism 280, when desired. When so secured, the third apex of the respective triangular side plates 283 extends downwardly a `substantial distance. A bar 2 87 (Figs. il and ll) is rigidly secured between said third apexes of the side plates 283'andassists in the support of the carriage rails 232 through ,the medium of a pair of blocks 2&3 on the oar 287 which blocks are bolted to said rails 423:2 through slots 289 (Fig. ll) formed near the rearrn'ost ends thereof.

An additional plate 290 (Figs. 4, SB and ll) depends fromthe transverse angle bars 28d, 285 centrally thereof and has ahole 291 (Figs. 16 and l7) near its lower end in horizontal axial alignment with a `bearing 29,2 (Figs. 3B and ll)on one of the side plates 283. A drive shaft 295 is rotatably supported in said bearing 292 and in the bore 296 (Fig. l7) of a sprocket 297 whose hub `298-is bolted -rigidly to the side of the central plate 290 in concentric `relation with the hole 291 therein. A `set collar 299, which is situated within this hole 291, is secured to the drive shaft 295 to ahnt the `hub 298 of the :,ixed sprocket 297 on one side while a large drive -sprocket-ltl-keyed on the end of the drive shaft 295 is secured against relative axial movement thereon by a set screw 301 so as to lie against the other side of the fixed sprocket hub 29S. i'hus, the drive shaft 295 is locked against axial movement relative to the central plate 290 :which constitutes a rigid element of the drive mechanism frame 281.

A stub shaft 302 (Fig. l7) is rotatably supported within a -bearing 333 positioned eccentrically on the drive sprocket 300 in parallel relation to the axis thereof. `A pinion sprocket 3.04 is formed integrally on one end of the stub shaft 362 in coplanar relation with the Vfixed sprocket 297 sorthat a chain 3535 trained about these two sprockets 297 and 3&4 provides-for planetary movement of the pinion sprocket 31M .around the xed sprocket "297 Thepinion sprocket 304 has exactly one-half the number of Ateeth ofjthe fixed sprocket 297 whereforeit will'revolvo twice ,on its own `axis during each revolution ofthe drive sprocket 300. A slot 3.66 is provided in the drive .sprocket 30.6 so that a rotatably mounted roller 367 4may be adjustably ,clamped in rolling engagement with the planetary sprocket .chain 305' to tension the same.

Acrank arm 308 ,is keyed to the opposite end Aof the stu-b shaft 3,02 so that when the drive sprocket 30% is rota-tivelyposi-tioned with the stub shaft392 disposed horizontally rearwards ofthe drive shaft 295, the crank arrn Si??? extends rearwardly from the stub shaft 392 in `the horizontal :plane determined by the two `shafts 295 and 302 as shown clearly in Fig. i and as indicated'at 'Sofia in Figure 18.

As thedrive sprocketltlt) rotates in a clockwise directionfasviewed Ain "Fig lr6, the planetary sprocket 3d@ rotates-'in acounterclockwise direction about its ownaxis yto accordingly move the outer end of the crank arm `3dS inwardly'in the general direction of the drive shaft 295. With thesivu .2 to 1 ratio 0f the txed sprocket 2.97 .relative .to .the planetary .sprocket 304, the latter will .rotate 180 ou its .own asthe drivesproket 300 p moves '-Iherefore, upon eompletion Vof one .quarter a revolution of the drive'sprocket 300, lthel-eudvof ,the Ytranky rra v30.8 wllverticall-ylntersect leansv @f nl@ Vrire.Shaft 2.25, asis diasramtnaticall-y illustrated at aaah 

